Apparatus for storing stacked articles



Sept. 9, 1947. v w. J. GIBBS 2,426,995

APPARATUS FOR STORING STACKED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 24, 1944 INVENTOR 11/. J7 6/553 8,6 P4434114, ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1947 APPARATUS FOR STORIN G STAGKED ARTICLES William J. Gibbs, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application February 24, 1944, SerialNo. 523,665 4 Claims. (01. 312-71) This invention relates to devices for holding and automatically feeding stacked articles of approximately uniform size and weight. More particularly, it is directed to improvements in unitary storage and dispensing apparatus of the type shown in my Patent 2,251,876 issued on August Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a foreshortened cross sectional view taken on lin III-III of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a vertical casing or housin I comprising base ID, a plurality of, and as shown four, vertically disposed rigid guide rods II secured thereto in any convenient manner and extending upwardly therefrom, and an "upper portion or collar I2. These guide rods II are spaced about 90 apart and are substantially parallel to each other, with the upper end of each rod being bent slightly outwardly away from the vertical center line of base III. The collar I2 is located exteriorly of the guide rods I I and is located a short distance below the upper ends thereof. The guide rods I I are rigidly secured in any convenient manner to the collar I2. The collar I2 has an outwardly extending rest or supporting flange I3 integral therewith.

Centrally located on the upper face of said base portion I I] and welded or otherwise secured thereto is a spring guide I4 which may be of cylindrical contour. The upper outer end of the guide I4 is tapered downwardly outwardly a material distance and about one quarter the length of guide I4, The outside diameter of the remainder of said cylinder guide I I is just slightly less than the inside diameter of the spring hereinafter described.

A metallic calibrated compression spring I5, has its lower end surrounding the guide I 4 and seated on the upper face of base I0. Mounted on the upper end of spring I5 is a load carrier, which as shown is a. disc I6 having a cylinder I1 integral therewith and depending therefrom. The outside diameter of the cylinder I1 is just slightly less than the distance between any two oppositely disposed guide rods II so that the load carrier is free for vertical movement in casing I. Centrally located on the lower face of disc I6, welded or otherwise secured thereto and depending therefrom is a cylindrical spring guide I8. The lower outer portion of the spring guide I8 is tapered outwardly upwardly from its lower extremity a material distance and about one quarter the length of guide I 8. The outside diameter of the remainder of guide I8 is just slightly less than the inside diameter of sprin I5, The upper free end of spring I5 bears against the lower face of disc I 6 and surrounds the guide I8, A plurality of stops I9 and preferably at least three of them and as shown four of them, are disposed about apart and are secured'to the cylinder I! and extend outwardly therefrom. They are located on the cylinder I'I midway between the rods I I. The vertical location of the stops I9 is such that the distance between the upper face of the disc I6 to the stops I9 is just slightly greater than the altitude of the collar I2. I

The spring I5 which I prefer to employ has the following characteristics. The ratio of the diameter of the spring to its length is between about 5 to 28 and about 6 to 28 and preferably between 5% to 28 and 6 A to 28. The spring I5 which has been found particularly suitable for my purposes has a ratio of diameter to length of approximately 6% to 28."The pitch of the spring I5 is preferably about one half its diamater and when a spring having a diameter of approximately 6% is employed, I prefer that its pitch be approximately 3 inches. I prefer that the ratio of the diameter of the disc I6 to the height or altitude, of the cylinder ll be no greater than about 3 to 1 and that the diameter of the disc I6 be greater than the diameter of the spring I5. I prefer that the altitude or length of each cylinder I4 and I8 be approximately one half that of the cylinder I I.

I have found that a device embodying the aforesaid invention and illustrated in the drawings is eminently suitable as a stacking and feeding device. The device may be supported on a counter 28 by inserting the same through an opening therein and having the flange I3 rest on the counter. With no load therein, the parts are in the relative positions shown in Figure 3, the carrier being in its uppermost position with the upper face of the disc'IIi being at least as high as the upper face of flange I3, and at least two thirds of a coil and as shown more than one complete coil of the spring I5 encircles each cylinder I4 and I8. The carrier is maintained in its uppermost position by spring I5 and the position thereof is limited by the stops I9 which abut against the lower end of collar I=2. A load of articles such as dishes or the like may be placed on the carrier and when placed thereon cause the carrier to be lowered against the action of the spring I5 whose coils are compressed towards each other and with some of them surrounding the cylinders I 4 and I8. The tapered portions of the cylinders I4 and I8 aid in guiding the coils on said cylinders. After the maximum number of articles have been fiat stacked, the uppermost article is in position to be easily removed. The spring I is so calibrated for articles of a given approximate weight that with a stacked load of articles on the carrier the uppermost unit will always be presented for removal from the stack at a predetermined level within the upper free ends of guides ll. Upon removal of a unit or units from the top of the stack, the spring l8 automatically expands to-raise the stack a given distance for each decrement in the weight of the load.

The construction hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings, is of. very simple design, may be readily manufactured and may be used over an extended period of time without servicing.

"I claim: 7

device for storing;- and feeding stacked articles comprising an: elongated vertically ex tending open top casinghaving a top collar portionand a base plate portion, a carrier for stacked articles, saidcarrier being located in said casing and-being freely reciprocable therein, a compression spring disposed. between saidcarrier and said-base plate to, support said. carrier and its load; of stacked articles, said spring havinga urriiorm pitch from base to carrier and being of "substantially less diameter than; said casing so that it is. not supported against buckling: by the casing, said spring being calibrated and adapted to expand and raise. stacked articles on the carrier at given; equal distance for each given equalacl'ecremeni: or the load. whereby said stacked articles are presented. with the uppermost unit of the stackrat a predetermined level with respect to the: upper portion of the. casing, said spring being rendered substantially antibuckling by having the ratio of the length of the spring to its diameter between about 28 to 5- and about 28 to 6 the ratio of the diameter of the spring to the pitch. thereof being approximately 2 to 1.

2. A device for storingand feeding-stacked articles comprising elongated vertically extendopen top casing-formed from-a plurality of spaced: vertical guides, said casing" having a top collar portion and abottom base plateportion, a

carrier fbr, stacked article located in said casing and freely reeiprocable therein, said carrier having a depending skirt engaging said guides to guide the carrier against tilting, a metallic compression spring disposed between said carrier and said: base plate to support. said carrier and its load of stacked articles, said spring havin a uniform pitch from base to carrier and being of substantially less diameter than the casing so that it i not: supported againstbucking by the casing, said spring being calibrated and'adapted to extend and raise stacked articles on the carrier a given equal distanceif or' each given decrenrent of 1 the load whereby said stacked articles are presented with the uppermost .unit of the stack at tween about: 28m 5% and about 28 to 6 the ratio: of the diameter ofthe spring to the pitch thereof being approximatelyZto. 1*.

3; A device for storing and feeding stacked articles-comprising an elongated vertically extending open top casing formed from a plurality of spaced vertical guides, said. casinghaving a top collarportion and a bottom base plate. portion, a

- carrier for" stacked articles located in. said; casing and freely reciprocable therein, said carrier having a depending skirt engaging said guides, to guide the carrier against tilting, a metallic compression spring disposed between said carrier and said base plate to support said carrier and its load. of stacked. articles, said spring, having a uniform pitch from base to carrier and being of substantially less diameter than the casing so that it is not supported against buckling by the casing, said. spring being calibrated and adapted to eX- tend and raise stacked articles on the carrier a given equal distance for each given decrement of the load whereby said stacked articles are presented with the uppermost unit of the stack at a predetermined level with respect to the upper portion of the casing, said spring being rendered substantially anti-buckling by having the ratio of the length, ofltthe spring to its diameter between 2&110 5 and, about 28 to 6- /2, the ratio of, the spring to: the ptich thereof being approximately 2 to 1, said carrier having acircular, supporting surface and said skirt being cylindrical topermit rotation, of the carrier during its reciprocation in said casing.

4, A device for storing and feeding stackedarticles comprising an elor-ig-ated vertically extending'open. top casing; having a top collar portion and a base plate portion, a carrier for stacked articles; said carrier being located in said casing and being freely reciprocable therein, ametallic compression spring disposed betweensaid carrier and said, base plate to support said; carrier and its load of stacked articles, said spring having a uniform pitch from base to carrier and being of substantially less diameter than saidcasing. so

to the pitch thereof being approximately 2 to 1,

said carrier having a spring guide secured tothe lowerfface thereof and depending therefrom, the lower end of said guide being. beveled inwardly at it outer face, a. spring guide secured. tosaid base portion and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper end of said second mentioned'spring guide being beveled inwardly at its upper end, said compression spring having at least one complete turn of each. end ofthe spring. encircling the aforenierrtrlonedguides.

WILLIAM J. GIBBS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Y

UNlLTEDsSZiATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,226,308 Gibbs Dec. 24; 1940 232513876 Gibbs Aug; 5 1 941 OTHER REJEIEZRENCES- Manual on. Design; and Application of Helical and Spiral Springsor Ordnance, published February, 1943', by the A. EL, War Engineering Board of the Society ofi Automotive Engineers 

